Our forefathers were always sustainable, they just didn’t know it yet. Now, the world is following suit

There isn’t a nook or a corner of the world where being environmentally-conscious isn’t a standard any longer. It’s in stores at the mall; where chemical-free sunscreen and hand-dyed tunics sit on the same shelf. It’s in the grocery aisle; where cherry tomatoes and dragon fruit are organically grown without any traces of pesticides. It’s also in the vegan handbag you carry to work, the plastic-free wrap your sandwiches come in and the Instagram-famous reusable tumbler which goes everywhere you do. Going green is now a catch-phrase that is sweeping across the world; which has more to do with preaching and very little to do with practising. Today’s measurement of eco-friendliness is defined by the paper straw in your cold brew and the designer of the canvas tote you’re carrying. 

Which begs the question; is our modern approach to sustainability nothing more than just a passing fad? Because it can certainly feel that way. It nudges us to look into the past at how being earth-friendly existed in the decades gone by; much before trendy terms were even coined. While today’s environmental-consciousness is honoured with trophies and makes headlines, sustainability of the past was authentic and mindful, without needing validation from the world for it.

Think of a time when the air was cleaner, screens didn’t exist and being organic was used as an action rather than an adjective. Across small towns and farming villages, when the seasonal harvest was bountiful enough to fill every plate, its excess was sun-dried to a crisp and stored for damp, cold months. Deftly plucked coconuts were utilised without a scrap going to waste, with even coir repurposed as rugs and their shells as kitchenware. A plentiful harvest of vegetables were pickled as an accompaniment with meals and fruits; preserved, to be applied on bread for weekend breakfasts, when their season of ripeness had long past. Utensils of glass and cane were made sturdily enough to pass on to the next generations and plastic itself was a rarity. Clothes in pristine condition were handed down through families, and no one minded if they weren’t on trend. If fabrics were past their prime, that still wasn’t an excuse to discard them as they’d find their way to being woven in quilts and rugs. 

Concepts like less waste and no-plastic didn’t exist because, well, there was barely any to begin with. Be it produce and grain or metal and material, every element found its use, from core to cover. Only when that gap widened and a replacement was required, did it necessiate its way into the shopping cart. Purchase was driven by need, not want and underconsumption was put into practice; not as a trend, but as a way of life. Fast fashion didn’t fill up landfills when clothes went out of season and the personal private jets of celebrities raking up CO2 emissions wasn’t a problem to be acknowledged. Life was lived simply and purposefully. Sustainability was always practised; even if no one knew it yet.

Even if one wanted to turn back the clock on the stripping bare of natural resources and thoughtless consumption, it’s wishful thinking but not reality. Thankfully, the market is learning to adapt to the changing times with more mindful practices. Labels like Refash, are changing the game for the fashion industry, which is one of the world’s most polluting. Providing a community for circular fashion, the brand also upcycles dead stock into new garments; making wealth from waste. Water Memories, Karishma Swali's recently-launched debut print book by The Moonray Collective, explores the symbolic and ecological importance of rivers, with its proceeds going to The Paani Foundation's water conservation efforts. Obeetee, which calls itself the world's oldest carpet company, recycles plastic bottles into yarn, replaces coal with rice husk for steaming and follow water conservation practices which have reduced its consumption by nearly 90%. Forest Essentials and Plum Goodness encourage consumers to recycle their empty bottles and leave the store with a full one. Upcycling and underconsumption is slowly rising in popularity and maybe, this time, to stay.

They say it’s advisable to look into the past before you walk into the future. Living in tune with the earth deems that necessary. As we consciously and carefully proceed into a future that aims to be smart and sustainable, let’s never forget the age-old wisdom and traditions it began from.